Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers

and C++ Programming

Outline
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6

1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14

Introduction
What Is a Computer?
Computer Organization
Evolution of Operating Systems
Personal Computing, Distributed Computing and Client/Server
Computing
Machine Languages, Assembly Languages and High-level
Languages
The History of C
The C Standard Library
The Key Software Trend: Object Technology
C++ and C++ How to Program
Java and Java How to Program
Other High-level Languages
Structured Programming
The Basics of a typical C Program Development Environment

2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers

and C++ Programming
Outline

1.15
1.16
1.17
1.18

Hardware Trends
History of the Internet
History of the World Wide Web
General Notes About C and this Book

2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.

1.1 Introduction
We will learn
The C programming language
Structured programming and proper programming techniques

This book also covers

C++
Chapter 15 23 introduce the C++ programming language

Java
Chapters 24 30 introduce the Java programming language

This course is appropriate for

Technically oriented people with little or no programming

experience
Experienced programmers who want a deep and rigorous
treatment of the language
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1.2

What is a Computer?

Computer
Device capable of performing computations and making
logical decisions
Computers process data under the control of sets of
instructions called computer programs

Hardware
Various devices comprising a computer
Keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-ROM, and
processing units

Software

Programs that run on a computer

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1.3 Computer Organization

Six logical units in every computer:

1. Input unit

Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse)

2. Output unit

Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other

devices)

3. Memory unit

Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information

4. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)

Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions

5. Central processing unit (CPU)

Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer

6. Secondary storage unit

Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage

Stores inactive programs

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1.4 Evolution of Operating Systems

Batch processing
Do only one job or task at a time

Operating systems
Manage transitions between jobs
Increased throughput
Amount of work computers process

Multiprogramming
Computer resources are shared by many jobs or tasks

Timesharing

Computer runs a small portion of one users job then moves

on to service the next user

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1.5 Personal Computing, Distributed

Computing, and Client/Server Computing
Personal computers
Economical enough for individual

Distributed computing
Computing distributed over networks

Client/server computing

Sharing of information across computer networks between

file servers and clients (personal computers)

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1.6 Machine Languages, Assembly

Languages, and High-level Languages
Three types of programming languages
1. Machine languages

Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions

Example:
+1300042774
+1400593419
+1200274027

2. Assembly languages

English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer

operations (translated via assemblers)
Example:
LOAD
BASEPAY
ADD
OVERPAY
STORE GROSSPAY

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1.6 Machine Languages, Assembly

Languages, and High-level Languages
3. High-level languages

Codes similar to everyday English

Use mathematical notations (translated via compilers)
Example:
grossPay = basePay + overTimePay

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1.7 History of C
C
Evolved by Ritchie from two previous programming
languages, BCPL and B
Used to develop UNIX
Used to write modern operating systems
Hardware independent (portable)
By late 1970's C had evolved to "Traditional C"

Standardization

Many slight variations of C existed, and were incompatible

Committee formed to create a "unambiguous, machineindependent" definition
Standard created in 1989, updated in 1999
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1.8 The C Standard Library

C programs consist of pieces/modules called
functions
A programmer can create his own functions
Advantage: the programmer knows exactly how it works
Disadvantage: time consuming

Programmers will often use the C library functions

Use these as building blocks

Avoid re-inventing the wheel

If a premade function exists, generally best to use it rather than

write your own
Library functions carefully written, efficient, and portable

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11

1.9 The Key Software Trend: Object

Technology
Objects
Reusable software components that model items in the real
world
Meaningful software units
Date objects, time objects, paycheck objects, invoice objects,
audio objects, video objects, file objects, record objects, etc.
Any noun can be represented as an object

Very reusable
More understandable, better organized, and easier to
maintain than procedural programming
Favor modularity

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1.10 C++ and C++ How to Program

C++
Superset of C developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs
"Spruces up" C, and provides object-oriented capabilities
Object-oriented design very powerful
10 to 100 fold increase in productivity

Dominant language in industry and academia

Learning C++

Because C++ includes C, some feel it is best to master C,

then learn C++
Starting in Chapter 15, we begin our introduction to C++

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1.11 Java and Java How to Program

Java is used to

Create Web pages with dynamic and interactive content

Develop large-scale enterprise applications
Enhance the functionality of Web servers
Provide applications for consumer devices (such as cell
phones, pagers and personal digital assistants)

Java How to Program

Closely followed the development of Java by Sun

Teaches first-year programming students the essentials of
graphics, images, animation, audio, video, database,
networking, multithreading and collaborative computing

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1.12 Other High-level Languages

Other high-level languages
FORTRAN
Used for scientific and engineering applications

COBOL
Used to manipulate large amounts of data

Pascal

Intended for academic use

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15

1.13 Structured Programming

Structured programming
Disciplined approach to writing programs
Clear, easy to test and debug and easy to modify

Multitasking

Specifying that many activities run in parallel

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1.14 Basics of a Typical C Program

Development Environment
Phases of C++ Programs:
1. Edit
2. Preprocess
3. Compile
4. Link
5. Load

Editor

Disk

Preprocessor

Disk

Compiler

Disk

Linker

Disk

Linker links the object

code with the libraries

Primary Memory

Loader
Disk

Loader puts program

in memory.
..
..
..

Primary Memory

CPU

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Program is created in
the editor and stored
on disk.
Preprocessor program
processes the code.
Compiler creates
object code and stores
it on disk.

6. Execute

17

..
..
..

CPUtakes each
instruction and
executes it, possibly
storing new data
values as the program
executes.

1.15 Hardware Trends

Every year or two the following approximately
double:
Amount of memory in which to execute programs
Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage)
Used to hold programs and data over the longer term

Processor speeds

The speeds at which computers execute their programs

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1.16 History of the Internet

The Internet enables
Quick and easy communication via e-mail
International networking of computers

Packet switching
The transfer of digital data via small packets
Allows multiple users to send and receive data
simultaneously

No centralized control
If one part of the Internet fails, other parts can still operate

Bandwidth

Information carrying capacity of communications lines

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1.17 History of the World Wide Web

World Wide Web

Locate and view multimedia-based documents on almost any

subject
Makes information instantly and conveniently accessible
worldwide
Possible for individuals and small businesses to get
worldwide exposure
Changing the way business is done

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1.18 General Notes About C

and This Book
Program clarity
Programs that are convoluted are difficult to read,
understand, and modify

C is a portable language
Programs can run on many different computers
However, portability is an elusive goal

We will do a careful walkthrough of C

Some details and subtleties are not covered
If you need additional technical details

Read the C standard document

Read the book by Kernigan and Ritchie

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